Everton’s ongoing battle with the Premier League is one which has raged on for months now, as they seek to profess their innocence against an institution seemingly hell-bent on pushing them down.
Having enjoyed such a fine first half of the campaign under Sean Dyche, steering themselves well clear of the relegation zone at last, complications swiftly arose when the division dug into their finances.
Outlining a few key irregularities, they would conjure up a ten-point deduction to send them hurtling back down towards the bottom of the league.
Since picking themselves back up to get their heads above water, earlier this week news broke of another alleged breach set to inflict further pain.
It is admirable the way in which Everton just keep rolling with the punches, but if it were not for the likes of Andy Burnham and others fighting alongside, the Toffees might just have been out for the count by now.
What did Andy Burnham say about the Premier League?
Speaking to the Across the Park podcast, he claimed: ‘I do believe that the statement that they’ve got an open approach needs to be challenged. I do believe we need clarity on the status of the formula that was sent to the first independent commission.
‘Is that same formula going to be sent to the second? Is it going to be sent in respect of Forest? We need to know the answer to these questions and I’m afraid the impression given to the committee on Tuesday was not at all in my view what the Premier League has actually done in the case of Everton.
‘That, I think, is where it is this weekend, and it just gets more concerning to me. The handling of this is breaking every rule in the regulator’s handbook. As I say, I’ve got long experience of regulation, so these aren’t off the top of my head comments. This does not follow the principles of good regulation at all.
‘The Premier League’s got to decide how much further does it go down this path without correcting some of these very first-order fundamental failures in my view.
‘The first thing it should do is publish the formula.’
Why does Andy Burnham support Everton?
As someone who has supported the club in its battle ever since the initial ruling was administered in November, the Mayor of Greater Manchester is an important political figure, and more importantly a keen Evertonian.
Having pushed to muster up as much interest as possible, outlining grievances through letters and even interviews with Sky Sports that were pulled from the air, his work in highlighting such alleged corruption has been vital.
The same can be said for this latest piece, where he notes particular frustration with the manner of the Premier League‘s punishment and their desperate, borderline dangerous desperation to avoid an independent regulator.
It seems like his lifelong status as a mere fan could be upgraded to hero status among the wider supporters, should he maintain this level of defence and see it pay dividends.
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